Construction Laborer Salary in Birmingham, AL
Construction Laborers in the Birmingham, AL metro area earn a median $38,370 a year — 19% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,357 take-home, or $2,613 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median construction laborer salary in Birmingham, AL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,424
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,379
- Medicare (1.45%)$556
- Alabama income tax$1,654
- Take-home pay$31,357
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.00% state
Construction Laborer pay by experience in Birmingham, AL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,250 | $13.58 | $23,726 | $1,977 |
| 25th percentile | $32,250 | $15.50 | $26,745 | $2,229 |
| Median (50th) | $38,370 | $18.45 | $31,357 | $2,613 |
| 75th percentile | $47,010 | $22.60 | $37,867 | $3,156 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $51,730 | $24.87 | $41,424 | $3,452 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Alabama resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,370 buys in Birmingham, AL
Prices in Birmingham, AL are 8.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 28% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median construction laborer's $31,357 take-home pay has the buying power of $34,216 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Birmingham, AL has 1.3× the national concentration of construction laborer jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for construction laborers, adjusted for cost of living
Birmingham, AL ranks #273 of 286 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vineland, NJ | $83,680 | $64,558 | $67,271 |
| 2 | Trenton, NJ | $71,920 | $57,000 | $55,243 |
| 3 | Kahului, HI | $79,760 | $60,410 | $55,222 |
| 4 | Duluth, MN | $61,340 | $48,819 | $54,996 |
| 5 | Decatur, IL | $61,270 | $48,522 | $54,876 |
| 6 | St. Louis, MO | $64,500 | $51,912 | $54,593 |
| 7 | Peoria, IL | $62,960 | $49,797 | $54,583 |
| 8 | Jefferson City, MO | $58,220 | $47,161 | $53,607 |
| 273 | Birmingham, AL | $38,370 | $31,357 | $34,216 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 286 metros →
Construction Laborer salaries elsewhere in Alabama
- Decatur, AL — $37,680
- Florence, AL — $36,260
- Mobile, AL — $36,830
- Tuscaloosa, AL — $36,460
- Auburn, AL — $36,110
- Montgomery, AL — $36,630
- Daphne, AL — $38,440
- Huntsville, AL — $37,510
Frequently asked questions
How much does a construction laborer make in Birmingham, AL?
The median construction laborer salary in the Birmingham, AL metro area is $38,370 a year, or about $18.45 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $32,250 and $47,010.
What is a construction laborer’s take-home pay in Birmingham, AL?
On the median $38,370 salary, a single filer living in Alabama takes home about $31,357 a year ($2,613 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,654 in Alabama taxes in 2026.
Is Birmingham, AL a good place to work as a construction laborer?
Pay here is 19% below the national median of $47,120. Local prices are 8.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $34,216 would in a typical U.S. city. Birmingham, AL ranks #273 of 286 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a construction laborer afford rent in Birmingham, AL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Birmingham, AL is $1,115 a month ($1,234 for two bedrooms) — 43% of a median construction laborer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Birmingham, AL
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $71,280
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $60,090
- Structural Iron and Steel Worker — $59,180
- Electrician — $56,630
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $54,330
- Carpenter — $50,400
- Sheet Metal Worker — $48,090
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher — $46,390
- Helpers--Electrician — $36,880